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Guide to types of alterations

Guide to types of alterations

Please note the information below is correct unless permitted development rights have been withdrawn on an earlier planning permission. We advise you to check with us whether this is the case with your property.

Enlargements, improvements and other alterations
You will need planning permission for:

  • extensions fronting a highway on the principal elevation
  • any side extensions
  • rear extensions greater than one storey
  • cladding the exterior of the house
  • verandas and balconies
  • raised platforms more than 300mm high.

Other developments may be permitted if the following conditions are met:

  • the height of the eaves of the extensions must not exceed three metres if the extension is within two metres of a boundary
  • single-storey rear extensions must not extend from the wall of the original house by more than three metres for terraced or semi-detached houses, or four metres for detached houses
  • the extension cannot be higher than 4 metres to the ridge line
  • materials must be of a similar appearance to existing materials
  • upper floor windows inserted in side elevations must be obscure glazed and open-able parts of the window must be more than 1.7 metres above the floor
  • total ground area covered by buildings in the curtilage must not exceed 50 per cent of the curtilage area.

Windows and doors
Planning permission is not required to replace or alter the windows and doors of a house in the National Park (including Conservation Areas) – providing the house is not a listed building.

Enlargements by additions or alterations to roofs
You will need planning permission for:

  • all roof extensions, including the installation of dormer windows
  • other developments, such as roof lights projecting more than 150mm from the surface of the roof
  • roof lights in side elevations which are open-able below 1.7 metres from the floor or are not obscure glazed.

Porches
You will need planning permission for:

  • porches which are not constructed outside existing external door
  • porches greater than three square metres, three metres in height or within two metres of any boundary with a highway.

Curtilage (garden) structures – including buildings, enclosures, pools and containers.
You will need planning permission for:

  • containers with capacity greater than 3,500 litres
  • structures forward of the principal elevation of the house
  • structures higher than four metres to the ridge line
  • structures to the side of the house
  • verandas and balconies
  • raised platforms more than 300mm high.

Other development may be permitted development if the following conditions are met:

  • dual-pitched structures, such as a building with a gable-ended roof, must not exceed four metres high
  • structures within two metres of boundary must not exceed 2.5 metres high
  • other structures must not exceed three metres high
  • eaves heights must not exceed 2.5 metres high
  • curtilage structures greater than 10 square metres and more than 20 metres from any wall of the house will exclude further permitted development under this class
  • total ground area covered by structures in curtilage must not exceed 50 per cent of curtilage area (excluding house area).

Boundary walls
If adjacent to a highway used by vehicular traffic, you can build a wall or fence without planning permission as long as it is not more than a metre high. You can build a wall or fence up to two metres high anywhere else without needing planning permission.

Hard surfaces
You will need planning permission for:

  • non-porous hard surfaces greater than five square metres between the principal elevation and a highway will require consent unless there is a direct run-off to a permeable or porous area in the curtilage

Please note: this applies to the replacement of existing hard surfaces and not just new surfaces.

For more details, please read Communities and Local Government: Guidance on permeable surfacing of front gardens.

Chimney, flue, soil and vent pipes
You will need planning permission for:

  • installations which front a highway and form either the principal or side elevation

Other development may be permitted if the following conditions are met:

  • chimney, flue, soil and vent pipes should not exceed one metre above the highest part of roof.

Installation, alteration or replacement of a microwave antenna, such as satellite dishes
You will need planning permission for:

  • antenna facing onto and visible from the highway
  • antenna on a building where the building exceeds 15 metres in height
  • more than two antennas.

Other developments may be permitted if the following conditions are met:

  • the antenna must not exceed 100cm in length
  • if installed on a chimney, the length of the antenna cannot exceed 60cm
  • antennas installed on a roof with a chimney must not exceed the height of the chimney or 60 cm above the ridge tiles, whichever is lower
  • on a roof without a chimney, antennas must not protrude above the ridge
  • where attached to a chimney, the antenna must not protrude above the chimney
  • antennas must not exceed 35 litres.

So far as is practicable, antennas should be sited to minimise their effect on external appearance of building. For guidance on whether you need planning permission and where you can place your dish check out the Planning Portal’s Antennae Guide.

LPG/oil containers/tanks
You will not need planning permission providing:

  • for domestic heating purposes and the capacity would not exceed 3500 litres
  • it is not sited forward of the principal elevation of the house
  • it is not sited between a side elevation of the house and the boundary
  • it is sited within 20 metres of the rear elevation
  • no more than three metres in height (or 2.5 metres if sited within 2 metres of the boundary)
  • it is not within the curtilage of a Listed Building.

Swimming pools
You will not need planning permission providing:

  • it is not sited forward of the principal elevation of the house
  • it is not sited between a side elevation of the house and the boundary
  • it is sited within 20 metres of the rear elevation
  • it is not within the curtilage of a Listed Building

Solar panels
These are allowed on roofs/walls providing they are not installed above the ridgeline of the roof and do not project more than 200mm beyond the plane of the wall or roof surface. In a conservation area they are not allowed on any wall which fronts a highway. They must be sited so as to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building. Listed building consent will be required to install solar panels on listed buildings.

New accesses
The formation, laying out and construction of a new means of access onto a trunk or classified road will require planning permission. Please phone Hampshire Highways Department (contact centre) on 0300 555 1388 to discuss the potential highways requirements (visibility and safety). We will then be happy to assist further with your enquiry.


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